Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
“Hell no,” Sid exploded. “Did you think because he feels guilty, we’d let him off?”
Czar’s eyes went the piercing silver that indicated to Keys that he was at his most lethal. “Not a chance, Sid. We run a very tight club. Betrayal carries a death sentence, and every single member of my club knows that. We don’t fuck around with traitors.”
There was no way to doubt Czar. He meant what he said, and everyone in the room knew it wasn’t a threat, it was their reality. The founding members of Torpedo Ink had lived under a death threat their entire lives. Only by sticking together and trusting one another had they managed to survive.
“I’ve got my brother Code working on your problem already,” Czar continued. “He’ll have the name, or names, of your traitor in a few minutes. If you need absolute confirmation, Absinthe can question them for you and determine whether they’re telling the truth.”
Absinthe gave them an easy smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I have a gift for hearing lies.”
Sid and his two brothers exchanged a long look as if Absinthe had just confirmed something they had suspected.
“Can you help us with this problem?” Sid asked.
“Yes,” Czar confirmed. “But you have to be certain before we agree. Once the deal is made, there’s no going back.”
“Let’s get down to making a deal,” Sid said. “What do you need from us in return?”
It was clear he was apprehensive about the demands Czar might make. Czar flicked his gaze to Absinthe.
“Before you make any decisions, Sid,” Absinthe said, “be very certain you want us to help you out. You get in bed with us, you play by our rules. There would never be a second chance if you betrayed us. We’d come for you, and no one would ever know it was us. If you think of what the Ghosts are capable of doing as being the worst, you are incorrect. They fear us for a good reason. Don’t make your decision lightly. Maybe it would be better to keep the status you have than to become allies with us.”
Sid, Warren and Knox exchanged a long look. All three shook their heads.
“You want privacy to discuss it,” Czar said. “We can give you a few minutes.”
Sid shook his head. “They killed Joe and Myra. We’ll take our chances with you. Give us terms.”
The fact that Sid put it like that, Keys knew he recognized that there would be no bargaining. If Headed for Hell wanted Torpedo Ink’s aid, it would be on Czar’s terms.
“We don’t need or want more territory. We don’t want any part of your operations. You will agree, under penalty of death, to stay away from human trafficking. You will keep silent about an agreement with our club and never discuss us with any other club. You won’t talk about us or speculate on anything you think we may have done to complete the job. We will expect your support if we ever call on you.”
There was silence while Sid and his men waited for more demands. When none came, it was Warren who asked, “That’s it? That’s your price for taking these fuckers down? The militia is armed to the teeth. They’re skilled veterans. You can’t discount them. We’re willing to go to war with you. Back you in any play you want to take them out.”
Czar took out his phone and scrolled through a long message even as he shook his head. “We work alone. It’s best if your people just go about their business as usual. That way, there won’t be any blowback on you. Be seen for the next few days. Be in front of cameras so you have alibis. Got interesting data in from my brother Code. How much do you know about a man named Cohen Marks? I understand he’s your VP.”
Sid sat up straight. Warren nearly came off his chair. Knox reacted by slamming both palms on the table.
“No way. Cohen has been in the club for ten years, before it was anything but a few guys riding together,” Warren supplied. “Are you seriously implying he had anything to do with Joe and Myra being targeted? Being murdered? He was good friends with Joe. He would never…” He trailed off, meeting Sid’s eyes. “He was so broken up.”
“Sending the information to your phones. You decide,” Czar said. “My man’s the best at collecting data, and he managed to find three cameras that caught your VP in meets with Varga and a couple of others. All three meets were held around three in the morning in town. There was no other member of Headed for Hell around.”
Keys poured more coffee for himself while the three members of the other club absorbed the fairly detailed information Code had dug up on their VP.